10 Inexpensive Beauty Tricks Only Stylists Know

Save a little money on your beauty regimen with these inexpensive secrets from the pros.

1. Baby your brushes

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Good makeup brushes should last a lifetime. If yours look destroyed, here’s how to keep your next brush in tip top shape, according to InStyle experts. First, never let your brushes sit with product on them for too long; it can permanently damage the bristles, according to makeup artist Fiona Stiles. Wash them regularly with shampoo or a mild dish detergent. To dry, lay brushes flat on a paper towel, says makeup artist Jake Bailey: "If you put them upright in a cup, water can seep into the base and rot the brush."

2. Don't redo makeup; refresh it

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There's no need to remove and re-apply makeup after a mid-day meltdown. "To sop up oil and refresh makeup, lightly mist your face with toner, then pat with a tissue," salon owner and makeup artist Eva Scrivo tells Marie Claire. Then dust with loose powder for a smooth, velvety finish.

3. Skip the expensive body scrubs

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Is a spa body treatment beyond your budget? You can easily get silky, smooth skin at home with a homemade body scrub from SheKnows: mix one part olive oil with two parts sugar or salt, then add a few drops of an essential oil (try lavender or grapefruit). Gently massage over your arms and legs before your next shower, then rinse off with warm water.

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4. Prepare before you pucker up

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Smooth, flake-free lips are an essential first step when applying lip color, but you don’t need to buy a lip scrub, personal stylist Fawn Cheng tells SheKnows. Her recipe: Mix equal parts brown sugar, olive oil, and vanilla extract. Gently massage the mixture over lips and remove with a facial tissue. Then proceed as normal with your lipstick routine.

5. Warm up your foundation with bronzer

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You don't need to have an arsenal of different face foundations in your beauty kit, according to makeup artist Brett Freedman. She tells Real Simple, "When summer comes and your winter foundation looks too light, you can warm it up by adding a touch of gel bronzer to it. This is way easier and cheaper than buying a brand-new foundation."

6. Don't over-powder

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When you're getting ready on a hot day, don't continuously powder your face as you do your makeup, says makeup artist Lisa O’Connor; you'll risk ending up with a caked-on effect. "Wait until just before you're ready to go out, then blot excess moisture and set your makeup with powder," she tells Total Beauty.

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7. Make any lipstick long-lasting

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To reduce your need for touch-ups, Real Simple says to dust a little powder on a folded facial tissue, then press it gently between your lips to blot your lipstick. Bonus: This trick also helps keep color off of your teeth.

8. Perfect the cat eye

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For an expertly-drawn look you can create at home, use makeup artist Julianne Kaye’s trick. "All you need is a sticky note, business card, or paper towel," she tells SheKnows. Close the eye you're going to work on, and line up the note, card, or towel at a slight upward angle. Use it as a guide for creating the signature swooped-up line using your favorite eye liner.

9. Get tinted lashes for less

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Salon-tinted eyelashes provide a natural-looking, eye-enhancing effect. But you can create a similarly glossy, non-clumpy look without an appointment, says salon owner and makeup artist Kimara Ahnert. Simply use volumizing mascara and a facial tissue. "Take your mascara wand, dip it in the tube, wipe it on a tissue several times to remove excess product, and then apply it," she tells Marie Claire.

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10. At the end of the day, Vaseline is the best makeup remover

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Makeup artist (and owner of an eponymous cosmetics line) Laura Geller tells Woman's Day that she uses Vaseline to take off her eye makeup. It’s a ritual she picked up from her mother, who also used basic petroleum jelly to moisturize her hands. "Just dip a tissue into a jar and wipe your face with downward strokes. All your makeup will come right off," says Geller.